Lily Elephant Camp @Phuket

I chose Lily Elephant Camp because I wanted to see elephants up close while supporting a rescue organization that truly cares for them and it exceeded every expectation. Our guide, Khun Sara, was incredibly kind, welcoming, and inclusive, making sure everyone felt part of the group. Even if you don’t speak Thai, no worries as they communicate can speak English too! You can immediately tell the elephants are well cared for and happy here. The staff gave a powerful presentation on the plight of elephants, including how they’re hunted, which really drives home awareness and conservation efforts and I love that! The team is so much fun, keeping the energy high throughout, and they even take professional photos of you with the elephants and you can also review the photos at the end and select the ones you want to purchase. We prepared vitamin balls, chopped pumpkin and sugar cane, and fed the elephants by hand and it was magical. Activities involve hiking, showering/cleaning the elephants and sea bathing with them (which I sadly skipped due to a fresh shoulder tattoo), so come dressed right: pack swimwear, a change of clothes and shoes that are good for both hiking and water (if you don’t have any that’s ok as they provide shoes for you as well). At the end of all activities we were served a delicious Thai meal. Best of all, your money goes straight back to elephant care and raising awareness, which is so important when so many places still exploit them for entertainment (that breaks my heart). The elephants looked genuinely joyful, and this experience is highly recommended for anyone wanting an ethical, personal encounter.

We visited Lily Elephant Camp and had an absolutely wonderful experience. From the moment we arrived, everything felt calm, respectful and well organized. It truly seemed like the elephants are very well cared for and genuinely happy. The staff were kind, gentle and professional, and you could tell they really care about the animals. We got to prepare food for the elephants, feed them, spend time close to them, and even bathe with them in the sea – scrubbing, splashing water and just enjoying the moment. The elephants clearly enjoyed it too, which made the experience even more special. There was also a photographer on site, but absolutely no pressure to buy photos. We could sit down calmly afterward, look through the pictures and decide if we wanted to purchase the digital photos – which we really appreciated. The camp itself was very clean, tidy and well maintained, with great sanitary facilities. You can also order good, affordable food there, which was a nice bonus. Overall, this felt like an ethical, respectful and memorable experience. Highly recommended if you want to spend time with elephants in a responsible way. We loved every minute of it!

Amazing experience. No riding the elephants or treating them bad. Natural for the animals and you can tell they’re well taken care of! We took the full package. First we fed them, then we swam in the ocean. After that we took a rainshower and brushed them. After that it was feeding time again. Highly recommend this!